Hair care attachments and devices

ABSTRACT

A hair care device including a main housing ( 3 ) and hair engagement means ( 2 ), the main housing ( 3 ) includes a hollow compartment interconnecting an upstream end ( 4 ) and a downstream end ( 5 ), the upstream end ( 4 ) includes means for connecting to the outlet nozzle of an air-blowing device ( 98 ), the hair engagement means ( 2 ) include a plurality of elongated teeth ( 12 ) which are thermally conductive and which generally extend along the direction of air blowing from said downstream end ( 5 ) when the upstream end ( 4 ) of the device is connected to the air-blowing device ( 98 ) with the air-blowing device in its normal operating conditions.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to hair care devices including hair careattachments and, more particularly, to devices and apparatuses forstyling hair. More specifically, although of course not solely limitingthereto, this invention relates to attachments, devices and apparatusesfor generally straightening hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Hair care devices such as hairbrushes, curlers, crimpers and hairblowers are widely used to enhance personal grooming. Conventionally,hair is generally treated or styled with a styling means which is heldon one hand while at the same time a hot-air blower is held on the otherhand to provide hot air to shape the hair. In many circumstances, forexample, in outdoor or temporary environment or during travelling, it isdesirable that hair care and styling can be done with a single hand sothat the other hand of a user can remain free for, for example, holdinga mirror or other accessories or tools.

[0003] Among the various known hair care or styling means or tools,means for straightening hair are probably the least developed.Conventionally, hair is straightened by the use of a hairbrush to comb asection of hair away from the hair roots and then by turning thehairbrush to engage and then to pull the hair in order to impart tensionto that section of hair straight. Once the hairbrush has moved asufficient distance away from the roots of the hair and sufficienttension has been imparted to the combed portion, which is the portion ofhair caught between the hair roots and the hairbrush, hot air ischannelled through the outlet of the hair dryer and then directed backand forth along the tensioned portion of the hair to straighten and keepthe straightened hair for a more extended period of time. In thisstyling method, hot air is used to “lock” the tensioned hair in itsstraightened form.

[0004] Straightening hair in the above conventional manner requires bothhands of the user and can be a very tiring and cumbersome process. Also,it will be extremely difficult to straighten hair at the back of a userif the user attempts to straighten hair using the conventional method byhimself or herself.

[0005] Furthermore, because of the limitation of the conventionalbrush-and-engage-and-pull-and-blow method of hair straightening, a longstrand of hair has to be straightened in several steps which means thatsufficient tension has to be maintained along the length of the hairwhile the engaging positions are moving away from the hair roots. Thismay be harmful to the scalp as the straightening tension may besignificant or even excessive and the duration of the tension may belonger than necessary.

[0006] Due to the difficulty and tediousness associated withconventional hair straightening methods, hair straightening is usuallyperformed by professional hairdressers on the clients of hair salons,hairdressers, and the like. Thus, there is at least a need of hair careor styling devices which can be conveniently utilized to perform hairstyling, hair-care or hair treatment, especially hair straightening,with a single hand. Also, in view of the limited methods available forstraightening hair, there is also a general demand for hair-care orhair-styling devices which can be used to generally straighten hairwithout requiring the exertion of excessive tension on the hair toalleviate possible damage to the scalp. Furthermore, it will bedesirable if there can be provided hair styling devices, apparatuses orattachments generally for straightening hair in which there is no needto apply tension at discrete intervals along the length of hair in orderto impart sufficient tension to straighten hair. Preferably, when usingsuch improved devices, attachments or apparatuses, only mild tensionneeds to be gradually applied to the hair being straightened while thedevices, attachments or apparatuses, progress through the length of thehair in a direction away from the hair roots.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providedevices, attachments or apparatuses for hair caring or hair styling sothat hair caring or hair styling can be performed generally with asingle hand. More particularly, it is an object of the present inventionto provide attachments, devices or apparatuses generally forstraightening hair which can perform the desirable hair styling with asinge hand of the operator. It is a further object of the presentinvention to provide hair styling or caring attachments, devices orapparatuses which can be conveniently utilized to generally straightenhair by gradually imparting mild tension to the hair when the device isbeing moved along the length of the hair. Preferably, the hairstraightening devices, including attachments, devices and apparatuses,of the present invention can conveniently and effectively straightenhair without the application of excessive tension on the scalp. At aminimum, it is an object of the present invention to provide the publicwith an alternative choice of devices, attachments, apparatuses andmethods for generally straightening hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided a hair caredevice including a main housing and hair engagement means, said mainhousing includes a hollow compartment interconnecting an upstream endand a downstream end, said upstream end includes means for connecting tothe outlet nozzle of an air-blowing device, said hair engagement meansinclude a plurality of elongated teeth which are thermally conductiveand which generally extend along the direction of air blowing from saiddownstream end when said upstream end of said device is connected tosaid air-blowing device with said air-blowing device in its normaloperating conditions.

[0009] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a hair care device including an air blower and a hairstraightening means, said air blower includes a main housing with ahollow barrel, an air driving means which drives air to move along abarrel and a heating means, said hair straightening means include ahollow compartment with a downstream nozzle and connected to said barreland hair engagement means disposed adjacent said downstream nozzle, saidhair engagement means include a plurality of elongated teeth which arethermally conductive and which generally extend along the direction ofair blowing from said downstream end when said air-blowing device withsaid air-blowing device in its normal operating conditions.

[0010] Preferably, the distances between adjacent elongated andthermally conductive teeth are generally adapted so that the hair beingtrapped in the space between adjacent elongated teeth will be undertension when said device is being moved along said hair and away fromthe scalp.

[0011] Preferably, said downstream end of said device being disposedproximal to said elongated teeth so that the temperature of saidelongated teeth is generally dependent on the temperature of air exitingfrom said downstream end.

[0012] Preferably, said downstream end and said hair engaging means ofsaid device are disposed so that, during normal use, said hairengagement means are generally disposed intermediate of the scalp of theperson whose hair is being cared and the air exiting from saiddownstream end of said device.

[0013] Preferably, said downstream end of said device includes anelongated aperture which generally extends along a direction which isgenerally transversal to the direction of air movement exiting from saidaperture.

[0014] Preferably, said main housing is generally tubular and saidelongated teeth generally extend along the axial direction of saidtubular main housing.

[0015] Preferably, said elongated teeth are generally distributed alonga direction which is generally transverse to the direction of airblowing from said device when said device is connected to said airblowing device with said air blowing device in its normal operatingconditions.

[0016] Preferably, said hair engagement means includes a comb with atleast a row of thermally conductive and elongated teeth distributedalong a direction which is generally transversal to the direction of airleaving said device when said device is connected to said air blowingdevice with said air blowing device in its normal operating conditions.

[0017] Preferably, said main housing includes thermally insulatingguarding means bracketing said elongated teeth.

[0018] Preferably, said main housing includes a bifurcated and thermallyinsulated guarding means extending generally along the direction ofextension of said elongated teeth and bracketing said elongatedthermally conductive teeth between said bifurcated means.

[0019] Preferably, the length of said elongated teeth is generallyshorter than that of the main housing.

[0020] Preferably, said main housing is generally made of a thermallyinsulating material.

[0021] Preferably, an exhaust means is disposed on said main housing andintermediate between said downstream end and upstream end.

[0022] Preferably, said exhaust means includes an aperture disposed onthe same side of said downstream end in relation to said elongatedteeth.

[0023] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a method of hair straightening, said method comprising thesteps of:

[0024] heating metal teeth of a comb by blowing hot air over said comb,

[0025] inserting said comb into a bundle of said hair until hair isengaged by the comb,

[0026] moving said comb along said hair whilst blowing hot air onto saidcomb and through said hair.

[0027] whereby said hair is simultaneously tensioned and dried.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explainedin further detail below by way of examples and with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

[0029]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment ofthe present invention in the form of an attachment for connection to ahair care apparatus such as a blow dryer,

[0030]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the attachment of FIG. 1showing in more detail the elongated teeth, the teeth guards and thedirection of exit of air from the downstream end of the attachment inrelation to the main housing of the attachment,

[0031]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment ofthe present invention in another form of an attachment,

[0032]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the attachment of FIG. 3showing in more detail the elongated teeth, the teeth guards and thedirection of exit of air from the downstream end of the attachment inrelation to the main housing of the attachment,

[0033]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment ofthe present invention in a further form of an attachment,

[0034]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the attachment of FIG. 5showing in more detail the elongated teeth, the teeth guards and thedirection of exit of air from the downstream end of the attachment inrelation to the main housing of the attachment,

[0035]FIG. 7 is a front and elevation view of a fourth preferredembodiment of the present invention in yet another form of anattachment,

[0036]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing in more detail theembodiment of FIG. 7,

[0037]FIG. 9 is a front and elevation view of a fifth preferredembodiment of the present invention in yet a further form of anattachment,

[0038]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing in more detail theembodiment of FIG. 9,

[0039] FIGS. 11 is a perspective view of a sixth preferred embodiment ofthe present invention in a further form of an attachment,

[0040]FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing in more detail theembodiment of FIG. 11, and

[0041]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of thepresent invention showing a hair dryer incorporating the hairstraightening means of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a hair caredevice in the form of an attachment 1 for coupling to the nozzle of ahair dryer or hair blower. The device 1 includes a main housing 3 andhair engagement means 2. The main housing 3 includes a hollow body withan upstream end 4 and a downstream end 5. The downstream end includes aprimary downstream aperture 8 which is generally disposed so that theair leaving the device 1, after accelerating along the barrel of thehair dryer, will generally move along the direction of extension of theelongated teeth 12 of the hair engagement means 2. The primarydownstream aperture 8 is further disposed so that it is proximal enoughto affect the temperature of the elongated teeth so that theirtemperature is generally dependent or correlative to the temperature ofthe air exiting from the device 1.

[0043] A secondary downstream aperture 7 is disposed adjacent to theprimary aperture 8 and further displaced from the row of the elongatedteeth 12. This secondary aperture 7 provides hot- or warm-air to theportion of hair adjacent to the section of hair being straightened andcan help to expedite the drying of wet hair. Of course, the device canbe provided without a secondary aperture or the secondary aperture 7 canbe selectively blocked where no additional hot air for hair drying isneeded. To provide the selective blocking of the secondary aperture 7, acontrollable valve which can control the volume rate of exit of hot hairfrom the device may be included.

[0044] The hair engagement means 2 includes a plurality of elongatedteeth 12 which generally extend along an axial direction which isgenerally parallel to the direction of exit of air from the device whenthe device 1 is attached to a hot-air blower in its ordinary operatingconditions. The elongated teeth 12 are generally thermally conductive sothat its temperature will be relatively sensitive to and dependent onthe temperature of the air exiting from the device 1. The thermallyconductive and elongated teeth 12 are preferably spaced so that when theelongated teeth members 12 are inserted into the hair of a user, therewill be a noticeable degree of tension or friction dragging the devicewhen the hair device 1 is being moved along the hair. This impartedtension or friction when coupled with the elevated temperature of theelongated teeth 12 resulting from the heating of the thermallyconductive teeth by hot air exiting from the air blower have shown toprovide a very satisfactory hair straightening effect without the needof applying excessive tension to the hair.

[0045] In order to ensure that a reasonable level of thermal energy canbe imparted to the elongated teeth 12 for hair straightening, the teeth12 are generally thermally conductive and may be made from or coatedwith a suitable thermally conductive material, such as stainless steel,copper, aluminium or a suitable alloy. The elongated teeth 12 in thepresent preferred embodiment are generally arranged in the form of acomb 10 with at least a row of parallelly disposed teeth. The elongatedteeth are generally distributed in a row which extends along a directiongenerally transversal to the direction of exit of the hot air leavingthe primary downstream aperture or nozzle 8 when the device 1 isattached to a hair dryer under normal operating conditions.

[0046] To further facilitate the movement of the attachment 1 throughwet hair, every second tooth of the comb member 10 is of a longer lengthso that there is a wider space between the adjacent upper portions ofthe longer teeth and more hair can be accommodated. To protect theoutermost teeth 14 from damage and misalignment as well as acting as anadditional barrier to ensure that the heated outermost teeth 14 do notaccidentally graze the ear, scalp or skin of a person whose hair isbeing straightened, a pair of bifurcated guarding means 16 is providedadjacent to the outermost teeth 14 and separating the outermost teeth 14from the outside. In other words, the bifurcated pair of the guardingmeans 16 bracket between them the elongated teeth 12.

[0047] To provide for effective and more even thermal transfer from thehot air to the row of elongated teeth member 12, the primary aperture 8is preferably elongated and extend along a direction which is generallyparallel to the length of the comb member 10, that is, along thedirection of distribution of the elongated teeth 12. It has been notedthat a device having a comb member with elongated teeth 12 which aremore closely spaced apart is more preferably for straightening finerhair and a device having a comb member 10 with less closely spaced apartteeth 12 is more preferred for curling thicker and/or curlier hair. Thisis probably because, for finer hair, a more closely spaced apart teetharrangement will limit the number of hair to be trapped between adjacentteeth and the heat transfer can be optimised.

[0048] On the other hand, the space between adjacent teeth can beincreased for a device for treating thicker or curlier hair becausefewer hair strands can be retained within the same teeth slot if thehair is thicker. Thus, to provide an optimal hair straightening effectwithout requiring excessive tension, the spacing between adjacent teethon the device 1 should be one which will impart a reasonable level offriction or tension while an adequate amount of heat can be transferredto the trapped hair. In general when a reasonable level of tension isapplied, the scalp will not be painful while the device is ploughingthrough the hair. To be reasonably effective, a reasonable number ofhair strands should be kept between adjacent teeth so that thestraightening process can be easily accomplished. Thus, in utilizing thepresent device, it is preferable that a user will select a device with asuitable teeth length and spacing to ensure optimal straighteningresults.

[0049] Furthermore, as the device 1 is generally used to style hair in amanner similar to combing while the straightening, it is preferred thatthe length of the elongated teeth 12 is generally similar to the lengthof teeth in a conventional comb which is generally shorter than thelength of a finger of a typical adult. Further embodiments of thepresent invention to be described below are provided for thestraightening of different hair types. In general, the same numeralswill be used for clarity for referring to the same common parts whereappropriate unless the context otherwise requires.

[0050]FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a second preferred embodiment of anattachment 21 of the present invention which is similar to that of FIG.1 but with a larger primary downstream aperture 28 and elongated teeth12 that are fewer in number and all of approximately the same size asthe larger teeth 12 of the first embodiment. The spacing between theelongated teeth 12 is greater than those of the first embodiment, makingthis attachment 21 more suitable for straightening relatively thicker orcurlier hair. It will be noted that the length of the elongated teeth isgenerally shorter than the length of the tubular housing.

[0051] A third embodiment 31 of this invention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6which is again similar to the attachments 1 and 21 of previousembodiments but having a single, larger aperture or nozzle 37 and feweroutwardly projecting teeth 12 than both the previous embodiments. Theteeth 12 of the attachment 31 are larger in size than those ofattachments, 1 and 21 and are most suited to the thickest and curliesthair that can be straightened using a blow dryer attachment withoutresorting to the application of more powerful (and expensive) chemicalrelaxing agents to straighten the hair. An exhaust aperture 17 isprovided on the main housing to allow escape of hot air when the nozzle37 is blocked or tampered.

[0052]FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a fourth embodiment of an attachment 41of the present invention having primary and secondary downstream nozzles47, 48 and which differs from previous embodiments in that there areprovided two rows of elongated teeth 12. The elongated teeth 12 areinter-digitated or offset relative to the other to maximize the numberof strands of hair that come into contact with the heated teeth 12.Preferably, the teeth 12 are more closely spaced apart than the previousembodiments. The guards 16 again ensure that the ears, scalp and skin ofthe person whose hair is being straightened is protected from the heatedoutermost teeth 14.

[0053] The fifth embodiment of an attachment 51 of the present inventionwhich is suitable for a blow dryer is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 andis similar to that of the fourth embodiment but has primary, secondaryand tertiary nozzles 57, 58, 59 with two rows of elongated teeth 12 thatare laterally and offset relative to each other and positioned to eitherside of the secondary downstream aperture 58. As seen from FIG. 10, thisarrangement allows a greater volume of hot air to pass by both the upperand under surfaces of the two rows of the offset teeth 12.

[0054] A further embodiment of an attachment 61 of the present inventionis shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In this embodiment, two rows of elongatedteeth 12 are directly disposed at the exit of the downstream apertureand a plurality of exhaust slots 17 are provided for escape of hot airwhen the downstream end is blocked to alleviate the risk of personalinjury.

[0055] A yet another embodiment of an apparatus of the present inventionincluding a hair blower 98 the hair care means 1 of any of the previousembodiments is shown in FIG. 11. The hair care device can be integrallyformed with the barrel of the hair blower and can be, more preferably,detachably attached to the nozzle of the hair blower.

[0056] A method of straightening hair with this apparatus is also shownin FIG. 11. Referring to the Figure, it is shown that a user 99 canstraighten the user's own wet hair without the assistance of ahairdresser. As seen in FIG. 11, the user 99 directs or inserts the comb10 into the hair to thereby define a bundle of strands of hair. Thesestrands are gripped to some extent by the teeth while the comb member ismoved through the hair from the roots towards the tips of the strands.In this way, the hair is simultaneously tensioned whilst being heated orwarmed both by contact with the hot conductive or metal teeth 12 end bythe blowing of hot air over the teeth 12 and through the strands ofhair. It will be noted that in prior art methods, the hot air onlystrikes one surface of the bundle of strands and will be generallydeflected by the bundle of hair, rather than passing through it.

[0057] Of course, the other afore-described embodiments can also be usedin this embodiment without loss of generality and when they are so used,one or more exhaust slots 17 can be provided. In the event that theoutlet nozzles 7, 8 are directed against the scalp of the used 99, thehot air can escape via one or more of the exhaust slot(s) 17. Thisprevents hot air pooling or building up adjacent the scalp which mayotherwise induce the user 99 to operate the hair dryer 98 at a lowertemperature setting.

[0058] Professional hairdressers are also able to use the device of thepresent invention and will appreciate that the attachment 1 does awaywith the need for using a hairbrush to create the initial tension in thehair before the blow dryer 98 is used to retain the hair in itsstraightened form.

[0059] While the present invention has been explained by reference tothe preferred embodiments described above, it will be appreciated thatthe embodiments are only examples provided to illustrate the presentinvention and are not meant to be restrictive on the scope of thepresent invention. The scope of this invention should be determined fromthe general principles and spirit of the invention as described above.In particular, variations or modifications which are obvious or trivialto persons skilled in the art, as well as improvements made on the basisof the present invention, should be considered as falling within thescope and boundary of the present invention. Furthermore, while thepresent invention has been explained by reference to devices orapparatuses for straightening hair, it should be appreciated that theinvention can apply, whether with or without modification, to other hairstyling purposes.

1. A hair care device including a main housing and hair engagementmeans, said main housing includes a hollow compartment interconnectingan upstream end and a downstream end, said upstream end includes meansfor connecting to the outlet nozzle of an air-blowing device, said hairengagement means include a plurality of elongated teeth which arethermally conductive and which generally extend along the direction ofair blowing from said downstream end when said upstream end of saiddevice is connected to said air-blowing device with said air-blowingdevice in its normal operating conditions.
 2. A hair care device ofclaim 1, wherein the distances between adjacent elongated and thermallyconductive teeth are generally adapted so that the hair being trapped inthe space between adjacent elongated teeth will be under tension whensaid device is being moved along said hair and away from the scalp.
 3. Ahair care device of claim 1, wherein said downstream end of said devicebeing disposed proximal to said elongated teeth so that the temperatureof said elongated teeth is generally dependent on the temperature of airexiting from said downstream end.
 4. A hair care device of claim 1,wherein said downstream end and said hair engaging means of said deviceare disposed so that, during normal use, said hair engagement means aregenerally disposed intermediate of the scalp of the person whose hair isbeing cared and the air exiting from said downstream end of said device.5. A hair care device of claim 4, wherein said downstream end of saiddevice includes an elongated aperture which generally extends along adirection which is generally transversal to the direction of airmovement exiting from said aperture.
 6. A hair care device of claim 1,wherein said main housing is generally tubular and said elongated teethgenerally extend along the axial direction of said tubular main housing.7. A hair care device of claim 1, wherein said elongated teeth aregenerally distributed along a direction which is generally traverse tothe direction of air blowing from said device when said device isconnected to said air blowing device with said air blowing device in itsnormal operating conditions.
 8. A hair care device of claim 1, whereinsaid hair engagement means includes a comb with at least a row ofthermally conductive and elongated teeth distributed along a directionwhich is generally transversal to the direction of air leaving saiddevice when said device is connected to said air blowing device withsaid air blowing device in its normal operating conditions.
 9. A haircare device of claim 8, wherein said main housing includes thermallyinsulating guarding means bracketing said elongated teeth.
 10. A haircare device of claim 1, wherein said main housing includes a bifurcatedand thermally insulated guarding means extending generally along thedirection of extension of said elongated teeth and bracketing saidelongated thermally conductive teeth between said bifurcated means. 11.A hair care device of claim 10, wherein the length of said elongatedteeth is generally shorter than that of the main housing.
 12. A haircare device according to claim 1, wherein said main housing is generallymade of a thermally insulating material.
 13. A hair care according toclaim 1, wherein an exhaust means is disposed on said main housing andintermediate between said downstream end and upstream end.
 14. A haircare device of claim 12, wherein said exhaust means includes an aperturedisposed on the same side of said downstream end in relation to saidelongated teeth.
 15. A hair care device including an air blower and ahair straightening means, said air blower includes a main housing with ahallow barrel, an air driving means which drives air to move along abarrel and a heating means, said hair straightening means includes ahollow compartment with a downstream nozzle and connected to said barreland hair engagement means disposed adjacent said downstream nozzle, saidhair engagement means include a plurality of elongated teeth which arethermally conductive and which generally extend along the direction ofair blowing from said downstream end when said air-blowing device withsaid air-blowing device in its normal operating conditions.
 16. A haircare device according to claim 13, wherein the distances betweenadjacent elongated and thermally conductive teeth are generally adaptedso that the hair being trapped in the space between adjacent elongatedteeth will be under tension when said device is being moved along saidhair and away from the scalp.
 17. A hair care device according to claim13, wherein aid downstream end of said means being disposed proximal tosaid elongated teeth so that the temperature of said elongated teeth isgenerally dependent on the temperature of air existing from saiddownstream end.
 18. A hair care device according to claim 13, whereinsaid downstream end and said hair engaging means of said means are beingdisposed so that, during normal use, said hair engagement means aregenerally disposed intermediate of the scalp of the person whose hair isbeing cared and the air existing from said downstream end of said means.19. A hair care device according to claim 13, wherein said downstreamend of said means includes an elongated aperture which generally extendsalong a direction which is generally transversal to the direction of airmovement exiting from said aperture.
 20. A method of hair straightening,said method comprising the steps of: heating metal teeth of a comb byblowing hot air over said comb, inserting said comb into a bundle ofsaid hair until hair is engaged by the comb; moving said comb along saidhair whilst blowing hot air onto said comb and through said hair.Whereby said hair is simultaneously tensioned and dried.